South Ayrshire is to be the first multi-use site in the UK to benefit from a new high-speed fibre optic internet connection.

H2O Networks, part of the i3 Group, plans to install a Fibrezone using the existing wastewater networks, which will help in reducing the need to dig up roads and limit environmental impact.

Moreover a Fibrezone can deliver extremely fast internet connectivity by installing a ring of multi-core dark fibre cable within the business sector, campus, town or city, with connection points located around the circumference.

Business and private users are then able to connect to the ring at any point and exit the ring again to connect to another business or connect with a major ISP or telecoms carrier. Manchester-based H2O plans to roll out its Derestricted Access Route Connection fibre network, meaning businesses will be able to share information between multiple office sites in an instant at a fraction of the cost of traditional carriers.

Previously the majority of optical fibre networks were built by carriers which control the total capacity and provide a variety of managed services to a large number of customers.

However, H2O intends to create a network which can be managed by individual business users, with up to 10-year fixed price connections and unrestricted bandwidth.

The fibre optic allows for more data to be transmitted over greater distances than traditional copper networks..

Roy Shelton, commercial director at H2O Networks, said: "The Fibrezone in South Ayrshire is the first of 10 that will be built across the UK over the next 12 months.

"We are developing a national infrastructure that provides low cost unlimited bandwidth to businesses and organisations.

"i3 Group has developed a range of different solutions for the UK and its international partners to benefit from super fast connectivity delivered by fibre optic networks.

"Work has started on two of the first 10 town and city-wide Fibrecities which will provide connectivity speeds of up to 100Mbps.

"Fibrezone will also be a catalyst for future Fibrecities across the UK."